Magazine appear twice in the legendary Pete Frame Rock Family Trees - This is from the Banshees and Buzzcocks.

Magazine #1

April 1977 to November 1977. "I met John McGeoch in April" says Devoto - "but we just got 3 or 4 songs together - we didn't organise anything else at that Stage. At the time - I was still helping Buzzcocks out a bit--. but then over the summer - I started getting itchy feet and we put the rest of the band together The closing night of The Electric Circus in Manchester was our first gig - we weren't billed and it was a last minute decision to do it; We were able to borrow Buzzcocks' equipment and we just went on before them and did three numbers. Our official debut was at Rafters in Manchester (28-10-77) and a week after that we filmed a spot for 'So it Goes' at a specially set up gig at Kellevue." Virgin signed the group on the strength of demos and Devoto's reputation. Dickinson leaves and before they find a replacement they cut their first single - the excellent 'Shot By Both Sides'

Magazine #2

December 1977 until October 1978. They find Dave Formula and rehearse for their first tour - 7 dates in January to promote 'Shot By Both Sides.' The 100 Club is their first London gig. Devoto attracts br()et press coverage including massive head shots on the covers of MM and NME. Another short series of one-nighters accompanies a second single 'Touch and Go' and in June comes their debut album REal LIFE - After their first major British tour Martin Jackson leaves and until a new drummer can be found Paul Spencer fills in (for a German tour Supporting Patti Smith and an OGWT).

Magazine #1 (without Dickinson) released: Shot by both sides/ My Mind Aint So Open (Virgin VS 200 Jan 78 #4l). Line-up #2 released: Touch And Go/Goldfinger (VS 207 Apr 78) and REal LIFE (V2100 Jun 78 #29). The accolades come thick and fast:

"No-one that that has even the slightest interest in the present and future of rock'n'roll should rest until they've heard 'Real Life.'" says Melody Maker-. and Rolling Stone calls' 'Shot by both Sides' " - the best rock and roll record of 1976 punk or other wise." Critics qenerally go over board lavishing praise on Devoto and tipping Magazine for the top.

Magazine #3

October 1978 to July 1980. This line-up releases six singles and two albums - Give Me Everything/l love you big dummy (VS 237 - Nov 78) Rhythm of cruelty/TV baby (VS 251 Mar 79) A Song from Under the floorboards/20 years ago (VS 321- Feb 80) Thankyou/The book (VS 328 Mar 80) Upside down/The light pours out of Me (vs 334 May 80) Sweetheart contract/Feed the enemy/plus two live tracks (VS 368 July 80 #54). SECONDHAND DAYLIGHT (V2121 Mar 79 #38) and THE CORRECT USE OF SOAP (V 2l56- May 80 #28). Devoto: "We did four UK tours and a two month US tour during this period but then decided not to go on the road again until One of the singles started doing something. At this point we didn't seem to be any further on from where we were two years earlier." McGeoch moonlights with Siouxsie and plays with Visaqe with Adamson and Formula.

Magazine #4

July 1980 to December 1980. A new guitarist arrives - Robin Simon formerly of Neo and Ultravox. Devoto: "As I understand it he stayed in America when Ultravox folded (temporarily in March 79 - see family tree) and was living in New York -. but he'd just arrived back in England when. we contacted him. It seemed fortuitous'. We did a couple of weeks rehearsal then a month long tour of America and a month in Australia where we cut a live. album." PLAY (V 2184 Dec 80 #69). On their return Simon leaves- Something to do with inaccessibility and the absence of what Virgin describe as "a genuine and practical basis for collaboration." Devoto; "Around the time of 'Secondhand daylight' - that was an album which took itself seriously--for which I make no apologies because I Still think 'it's great - we really went for it. We did a major tour playing Major venues - but then went off on a different tack. with 'Soap'. If we'd stayed in the Same direction-.who knows?" Next album.

Magazine #5

January 1981 til May 1981 Enter much travelled virtuoso Ben Mandelson an old mate of Devoto's who had led the Amazorblades. Initially used as a session man he joins full time for turns out to be the group's final single and album. About the Weather/In the dark (VS 412 May 81). MAGIC MURDER AND THE WEATHER (V2200 June 1981 #39). In May Devoto suddenly announces his departure form the group which crumbles forthwith. "I feel that a change for me has been long overdue" he says "I could have held on for another 6 months but I didn't want to tour to promote the album. I don't whole heartedly dislike performing but I don't like long tours and their ever decreasing returns." A week or so earlier he'd told me "I find it very difficult to diversify. I would like to be able to find the time to do something on my own but Magazine is a full time thing for me." He's currently "thinking about producers" for solo LP.